P/V V A 7/ 



Ph 8.5, Buffered 



TOUS 0OBWEBS 



Woven from many Queer, Quaint and Curious Ques 
tions, gathered from many Queer Quar- 
* 271 ters, and all Unwound by 

re are 225 questions upon quaint and seemingly difficult points pertaining 
10 History, Art, Science, Philosophy, Geography, Botany, and hosts of things 
which are not generally known of by the average person. These are fully and com- 
pletely answered in the book. 

How to Use Curious Cobwebs. 

little book just at the closing hour of your afternoon session, read one 

; questions to the school and invite all to tell Pa and i\Ia of it when 

e. Insist that each individual shall try to find an answer if pos 

is thus aroused at home. The answer can be called for the first 

|ng, this being an incentive for prompt attendance'. A number 

We placed on the board and remain there during the week until Fri- 

nen a general discussion can be had. I know that genuine interest 

Sy this plan. Do not answer individual questions. Cite pupils to 

Ftionary, etc. 

Objects of Curious Cobwebs. 

: care of the teacher; to make the school more attractive and intei 
; parents in the work of the school ; to induce the pupil to look out- 
look and schoolroom for information; to form habits of close obsen-a 
Lng pupil, and in forming, these habits give him a fund of informa- 
iepr.y for all the trouble and time expended. 
Answers are full and complete. It is fully indexed so that any item can be 
^Kchly referred to. 1 give a lew of the queries as samples: 

"How can you prove that there is a blind spot in the eye?" "What river is 
spelled by a single letter?" "What state bought itself?" • "How can you see a 
snail's 'foot'?" "What is the weight of a locomotive?" "In what battle of the 
Revolution were all the dogs of the vicinity killed to prevent giving the alarm?" 
i] a rabbit run up hill better than down? Why?'' "What member of Congress 
was never late at roll call?' "Why will not the Jew's Harp produce a loud noise 
without placing it between the teeth?" "How can vessels carry grain free across 
• 

Tfcsse are orly samples — many are more difficult than these and many are more 
simple. Vo one will regret having sent for this little book. 




Price, SO Cents. 

A. FLANAGAN, 

163 Randolph St., CHICAGO. 



List of Books on TsacMng, Helps for Teachers, Games, &o. 



How to Teach and Study U. S. History, - Si 

Cook's Methods in Arithmetic, 

Hunter's Helps to History, 

Historical Mottoes for the Wall, Six in Set, 

Excelsior Questions in Arithmetic, 700 on separate slips of 

cardboard, 
1000 Ways of 1000 Teachers, 

Monthly Report Cards, per 100, - - 75c. a 

Hunter's Alphabet Cards, 
Curious Cobwebs, 
Exhibition and Parlor Dramas, - 
Hull's Drawing Sheets, i2odesigns, - 
Grube Method in Arithmetic, 

Practical Etiquette, ----- 
Sims' Combined School Register, the best out, send 

page, - 
Craig's Question Book, 
Practical Problems, two hundred, 
Gems of Thought, sketches of and thoughts from over 

American and English authors, on cards, 
Friday Afternoon Dialogues and Speaker, each, 



00 

75 
5° 
40 




From WILLIAM SWINTON, author of Swintons Histories, 

Readers, Geographies, Grammars, etc., in reference to How to 

Teach and Study U. S. History. 

Prof. Trainer: — I have passed two plesant evenings in the examination of your 
"How to Study U. S. History." The blackboard analysis, directions for studying 
the immediate topic under consideration and the review feature, must commend 
themselves to every intelligent teacher; but the most significant and valuable feature 
is what you happily style "Queer Questions." These cannot fail to stimulate inquiry 
and original reading, and when we have inspired this "noble rage" in the breast of 
the pupil, we have done for him much more than can be accomplished by any 
amount of cramming. Yours truly. 

WILLIAM SWTNTON. 



A. FLANAGAN, 

163 Randolph St., CHICAGO. 



THE FAVORITE SPEAKER SERIES.— NO. 1. 



THE FAVORITE 



primaryspeake: 



A NEW COLLECTION OF CHOICE PIECES 
FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. 



Y EDITED BY 

T. G. LaMOlLLE and EUGENE PARSONS. 



-*Aw 



:o:- 




CHICAGO: 
A. FLANAGAN, PUBLISHER, 

1885. 






COPYRIGHTED 
BY A. FLANAGAN. 

1885. 



PREFACE 



|HE aim and need of such a book as this may be 
briefly stated. Literature admirably suited for 
children is furnished by magazines like "Our 
Little Ones and the Nursery," "Our Little Men and 
Women/' "Pansy/' "Wide Awake/' "Good Times/' 
"Youth's Companion/' "Golden Days/' "Harper's 
Young People/' "St. Nicholas/' and many others. The 
educational, religious and newspaper press devote 
much space to the needs and tastes of children. 

From many sources we have gathered these selec- 
tions to preserve them in a convenient form, and to 
furnish parents and teachers with bright, fresh pieces 
for the use of their children and pupils. It is believed 
that no other work provides so many recitations which 
are not to be found in any other collection. Our se- 
lections from the above mentioned magazines are copy- 
rights, and must not be used without the expres per- 
mission of their publishers. The Editors. 
Chicago, April, 1885. 



CONTENTS. 

Angels' Watch, the 58 

April, Emily Huntington Miller . . 32 

Beautiful Things 74 

Bed- Time, Lucy Randolph Fleming 64 

Birdies 55 

Bobolink and Chick-a-dee, the 60 

Books.. 71 

Boundary of Christmas 8 

Boy and the Brook, the, Laura C Richards . ... 29 

Boy and the Toot, the, M. S 45 

Boy's Temperance Speech, a 13 

Calisthenic Exercises .........38, 43, 59, 77 

Candy Pull, the 15 

Cat and the Dog, the, M. F. B 66 

Cherry Blossom, S. M. Day ^S 

Closing Address, a , 60 

Conceited Grasshopper, the ... 21 

Concert Recitations 12, 51 

Consistency, Margaret Vandegrift 42 

Dandelion, the . . 80 

Dear Little Goose, a, M M. D 31 

Dialogues 11, 17 

Dialog, a, Uncle Charles 24 

Dick's Lesson, Elizabeth Sill. - 13 

First Day of School, the , . , 35 

First Introduction, the Maude Meredith 62 

First Letter, the, J. M. L 47 

Five Little Chickens. 11 

For a Little Boy, M R. D. D 26 

For a Little Boy, T. G. L 53 

For a Little Girl 45 

Four Limbs Break. ... 55 

Funny Chicken, a, Emma C Dowd 79 

Funny Little Grandma, a, Clara Broughton 37 

God Sees Me. ,„.. .. ..,.,.-., ..,. ? .. 12 



COMTENTS. 5 

Good-by 6<$ 

Good Company 24 

Good Little Girl and the Cold Little Boy, the 48 

Goggle Eyes ..- ,.... 70 

Grandma's Lost Balance, Sidney Dayre 61 

Grandpa's Whiskers, Eva M. Tappan 22 

Helping Mother 25 

"Here We Are," Mrs. M. F. Butts 43 

Her Name 18 

He Wasn't There 50 

I'll Put It Off. 21 

I'm Little, but I'm Spunky 15 

Indolent Joe . 29 

In Frog Land, Gertrude E. Heath 20 

Introduction, an 7 

Jack Horner, Aunt Clara 28 

Johnny Cake, the 17 

Last Day of School, the 36 

Lazy Pussy, the, Pah?ier Cox 30 

Letters, the. . . , ..'. ._ 47 

Little Boy's First Recitation, a 61 

Little Boy Who Ran Away, the 69 

Little Boy's Speech, a 67 

Little Boy's Wants, a, Kate Lawrence. 57 

Little Chatterbox 49 

Little Daisies — 12 

Little Dreamer, the 55 

Little Girl's Good-by, a, George Cooper ,.. 80 

Little Mother, the 40 

Little Things Make Great Ones 67 

Love for Love, Mrs. Mary E Nealy 52 

Million Little Diamonds, a, M. E B 9 

Miss Polly, W S. Reed 72 

Mistake, a — 27 

Mistress Mouse. - 8 

Morning, Noon and Night 77 

My Baby Brother 16 

My Kitten 76 

My Time-Table 53 



6 CONTENTS. 

Night and Day .. . .. ............. 49 

Neat little Girl, a , 66 

One Little Life .. 42 

Order 51 

Playing and Working 76 

Poor Robinson Crusoe 16 

Prize for Every One, a, Isabel McDougall 63 

Pussy and Ponto 34 

Pussy's Portrait 78 

Queer Dollies . . . . 3 6 

Rain, Hail, Snow, L. T. C 38 

Rich Little Dolly,the .. 30 

Robert and Ann . 40 

Robin and the Chicken, the, Grace F. Coolidge . ... 74 

Robin's New-Year 68 

Short Temperance Speech . . . r 44 

Smart Boy, a ........ 56 

Song of a Doll, a 68 

Song of the Brook, A. Z>. W 35 

Sow, Sew, So, Rosa Graham . . . . 55 

Summer is Nigh , 10 

Tale of a Cat, a, Sadie , 46 

"That Is So/' Margaret Eyti7ige 71 

There Was a Hole in the Wall 73 

They Both Went Off 19 

To Santa Claus ..... 23 

Two Little Birds 25 

Two Little Birds. 33 

Two Pussy Cats ... 19 

Two Ways, the. . . 10 

Violet and the Sunbeam, the, A. L. A Smith 9 

Waiting, Mary JV. Prescott. , 54 

Welcome , 75 

What Baby Has,F/. K , 73 

Which Was It? M.J 65 

Who Is It? 33 

Winged Words. , . ., 50 

Wizard, a ■ 18 

"You Can't Come In, Sir!"... . 27 

Youth and Age .... 26 



m. 



AN INTRODUCTION. 

Kind friends and patrons here to-day, 

We're glad to see you all, 
We'll try this kindness to repay, 

Although we know we're small. 

We're small and yet we feel quite big, 
But don't expect too much; 

Some people judge folks by their rig, 
But we don't care for such. 

We're here to have a jolly time, 

And help our school along, 
And those who cannot make a rhyme 

Will have to sing a song. 

Don't be too prim, and don't be rough, 
Just have a pleasant meeting; — 

But I have spoken long enough 
To give you all a greeting 
(7) 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER 

BOUNDARY OF CHRISTMAS. 



Christmas is bounded on the north by Happiness, 
Good Wishes, Oyster Lake, and the isthmus of Cran- 
berry Sauce; on the east by the peninsula of Turkey 
and Ocean of Goodies, on the south by Mince Pies, 
Jellies and Cakes; on the west by Pleasant Words, from 
which it is separated by the mountains of Cheerfulness. 
The capitals of Christmas are Peace and Good Will, on 
the Christmas Tree River. 

Dear teachers, friends and schoolmates, we are now 
on the border of this happy country, and before enter- 
ing we wish you all a"Merry Christmas and a Happy 
New Year." 



-:o:- 



MISTRESS MOUSE. 



Mistress Mouse 

Built a house 
In mamma's best bonnet. 

All the cats 

Were catching rats, 
And didn't light upon it. 

At last they found it, 

And around it 
Sat watching for the sinner; 

When, strange to say, 

She got away, 
And so they lost their dinner. 

— The Nursery. 



FA VORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 

A MILLION LITTLE DIAMONDS. 



M. F. B. 



A million little diamonds 
Twinkled on the trees; 

And all the little maidens said: 
"A jewel, if you please! " 

But while they held their hands out- 
stretched, 

To catch the diamonds gay, 

A million little sunbeams came, 

And stole them all away. 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



THE VIOLET AND THE SUNBEAM. 



A L. A. SMITH. 



A bright little sunbeam sped earthward one day 
From his father's great bosom of light; 

For he heard from his beautiful home in the sky 

A poor little violet mournfully sigh, 

" The earth is so cold, and the winds are so high, 
I am sure I shall perish ere night." 

But the words barely passed from her trembling lips 

When a life-giving kiss on her fell; 
And the dear little sunbeam both arms round her 

threw, 
And said, "Tremble not, I shall tarry with you," 
And he kissed back her life, till the tenderest blue 

Proclaimed her the queen of the dell. 

— Harper ' s Young People. 



i o FA VORITE PRIM A R Y SPEA KER. 

THE TWO WAYS. 



Where two ways meet the children stand, 
A fair, broad road on either hand; 
One leads to Right and one to Wrong, 

So runs the song. 
Which will you choose, each lass and lad ? 
The right or left, the good or bad? 
One leads to Right and one to Wrong, 

So runs the song. 



SUMMER IS NIGH. 



How do I know? 

Why, this very day 

A robin sat 

On a tilting spray, 

And merrily sang 

A song of May. 

Jack Frost has fled 

From the rippling brook, 

And a trout peeped out 

From his shady nook. 

A butterfly too 

Flew lazily by, 

And the willow catkins 

Shook from on high 

Their yellow dust 

As I passed by; 

And so 1 know 

That Summer is nigh. 



FA VORITE PRIMA R V SPEAKER. 1 1 

FIVE LITTLE CHICKENS. 



(FOR FIVE PUPILS.) 



(ist.) Said the first little chicken, 
With a queer little squirm: 
"Oh, I wish I could find 
A fat little worm!" 

(2d.) Said the next little chicken, 
* * With an odd little shrug: 
"Oh, I wish I could find 
•A fat little bug!" 

(3d.) Said the third little chicken, 
With a sharp little squeal 
"Oh, I wish I could find 
Some nice yellow meal!" 

(4th.) Said the fourth little chicken, 
With a small sigh of grief: 
<Oh, I wish I could find 
A green little leaf!" 

(5 th.) Said the fifth little chicken, 
With a faint little moan: 
"Oh, I wish I could find 
A wee gravel stone!" 

(All.) "Now see here," said the mother, 
From the green garden patch, 
"If you want any breakfast 
You just come here and scratch!" 



1 2 PA VORtTE PR /MAR Y SPEAKER. 

LITTLE DAISIES. 



(CONCERT RECITATION FOR GIRLS.) 



We are little daisies 

Bursting into bloom, 
Blessing by our sweetness 

All within the room. 

We are tiny rosebuds 

Hiding in the green; 
Don't we make a nosegay, 

Nicest ever seen? 

We're our Father's flowers 

Planted by his hand; 
Will you tend and keep us 
For his heavenly land? 

— Good Times, 
:o: 

GOD SEES ME. 



Thro' all the busy daylight, 

Thro' all the quiet night, 
Whether the stars are in the sky, 

Or the sun is shining bright, 
In the nursery, in the parlor, 

In the street, or on the stair, 
Tho' I may seem to be alone, 

Yet God is always there. 
He knows each word I mean to speak 

Before the word is spoken; 
He knows the thoughts within my heart, 

Altho' I give no token. 
Whatever I may do, wherever I may be, 
Altho' I see him not, yet he sees me. 



PA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 
A BOY'S TEMPERANCE SPEECH. 



*3 



Some people laugh and wonder 

What little boys can do 
To help this Temperance thunder 

Roll all the big world through ; 
I'd have them look behind them 

When they were small, and then 
I'd like to just remind them 

That little boys make men! 

The bud becomes a flower, 

The acorn grows a tree, 
The minutes make the hour — 

'Tis just the same with me. 
I'm small, but I am growing 

As quickly as I can; 
A Temperance boy like me is bound 

To make a Temperance man. 

— Youth's Examiner. 



-:o:- 



DICK'S LESSON. 



ELIZABETH SILL. 



When good old St. Nick 

Brought to brave little Dick, 
Last Christmas, his first pair of skates, 

Oh! never a boy 

Was wilder with joy 
In all this great Union of States, 



14 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

He scarcely could eat, 

Or keep still in his seat, 
Though the cakes and potatoes were nice; 

Before breakfast was done, 

He was off on the run, 
And scampering down to the ice. 

While one of his mates 

Helped him buckle his skates, 
Gay groups glided merrily by: 

Cried Dick, very bluff, 

"That's easy enough! " 
Said Tom with a twinkle, "Just try! " 

But, once on the ice, 

Dick perceived in a trice, 
His legs were disposed to be queer: 

When he tried to strike out, 

They would wabble about, 
As if they had had too much beer. 

One moment he swayed; 

Then a bold dash he made, 
With both his arms wildly outspread: 

But out flew his heels, 

And — you know how it feels — 
Down he went on the back of his head. 

He got up with a jump, 

Caring nought for the bump; 
And it gave him a lesson that paid; 

For he learnt,— what is true 

Of most other arts too, — 
That skaters are not bom y but made. 

. — The Nursery \ 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 



THE CANDY PULL. 



Such lots of fun 

The other day, 
When Tom, and Jack, 

And Maud, and May, 
And children, till 

The house was full, 
Came trooping to 

Our candy pull. 
The tiny tots, 

Who looked so sweet, 
Did nothing much 

Except to eat. 
But we worked hard 

The other day, 
We older ones, 

And thought it play. 

— Harper's Young People. 



-:o:- 



I'M LITTLE, BUT I'M SPUNKY. 



I'm little, but I'm spunky, too; — 
I'll tell you all that I can do: 
I have a top that spins; and I 
Can make a kite go to the sky. 

Will Smith says that he has one, too; 
I don't believe he says what's true, 
And I can tell you just the sign — 
'Cause Will — he always borrows mine! 



16 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

MY BABY BROTHER. 



I have a little brother, 

He is only three months old; 
He is such a little darling, 

He is worth his weight in gold. 

I often take him riding 
In my dolly carriage red; 

When he is a little older 
I'll take him on my sled. 

When I ride my little brother 
He pays me with a smile; 

I think that is pay enough 

Should I ride him a whole mile. 

He thinks his thumb the sweetest 

That ever baby had, 
And when it's taken from him 

He is just a little bad. 

He laughs all day at nothing, 
With a dimple in each cheek; 

I'm sure he'd say he loved me, 
If he could only speak. 



:o:- 



POOR ROBINSON CRUSOE. 



Poor Robinson Crusoe! 

What made the poor man do so? 

He was a robin's son, I know, 

But that's no reason he should crow. — . 

Pray tell me, why he crew so? 

—§t Nieholas. 



FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 1 7 

THE JOHNNY CAKE. 



(DIALOGUE.) 



[Have seven pupils with the various articles, or something to represent 
them, in their hands.] 



This is the seed, 
So yellow and round, 
That little John Horner hid in the ground. 

These are the leaves, 
So graceful and tall, 
That grew from the seed so yellow and small. 

This is the stalk, 
That came up between 
The leaves so pretty and graceful and green. 

These are the tassels, 
Se flowery, that crowned 
The stalk, so smooth, so strong, and so round. 

This is the silk, 
In shining threads spun: 
A treasure it hides from the frost and the sun. 

This is the treasure, — 

Corn yellow as gold, — 

That satin and silk so softly unfold. 

This is the cake, 
For Johnny to eat, 
Made from the corn so yellow and sweet. 

= — The Nursery. 



1 8 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER, 

HER NAME. 



In search, from A to Z, they passed, 
And "Marguerita" chose at last, — 
But thought it sounded far more sweet 
To call the baby "Marguerite." 
When Grandma saw the little pet, 
She called her "darling Margaret." 
Next, Uncle Jack and Cousin Aggie 
Sent cup and spoon to "little Maggie." 
And Grandpapa the right must beg 
To call the lassie "bonnie Meg." — 
(From "Marguerita" down to "Meg"!) 
And now she's simply "little Peg." 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



A WIZARD. 



'Twas a famous East Indian wizard — 
He could change a cow to a lizard, 

A fish to a squirrel, 

Or just by a twirl, 
Make gold from a black hen's gizzard. 

This clever East Indian wizzard 

Fell in with a Kansas blizzard; 
They had a set-to, 
And when they got through 

He didn't know "a" from "izzard." 

• — Wide Awake, 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. ig 

TWO PUSSY CATS. 



Two little pussy cats wrapped in fur 
Sit on the wall and they mew and purr 
Mew! mew! mew! 

If you listen you'll hear the black one say, 
"I like the night much better than day." 

If you listen you'll hear the white reply, 
"You're quite right, pussy, and so do I/' 
Mew! mew! mew! 

So they sit on the wall and mew and purr, 
These two little pussy cats, wrapped in fur. 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



THEY BOTH WENT OFF. 



Oh, Pussina White was as nice a young puss 

As ever reposed on a mat, 
But, like all her mice-loving kindred, she 

Was a very inquisitive cat — 
Me-ow! 

A very inquisitive cat. 

Through this fault it was that a sad fate she met; 

For one summer morn on the ground 
Something burning and smoking she saw and at once 

With her paw began rolling it round — 
Me-ow!! 

With her paw began rolling it round 



2o FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

'Twas a big fire cracker, and soon it went off, 

And into small pieces it flew, 
And that was the last of young Pussina White, 
For the poor little cat went off too — 

Me-ow!!! 
That poor little cat went off too. 

— Harper's Young People. 



-:o:- 



IN FROG LAND 



GERTRUDE E. HEATH. 



Have you heard of the country of Bogland, 

In the famous kingdom of Frogland? 

Where each plump mother Frog, 

On a water-soaked log, 

Rocks Johnny and Peter and Polly Wog? 

At night in this country of Bogland, 
In this famous kingdom of Frogland, 
Have you heard the poor mother 
Scold Pete and his brother, 
And the Froggies, in turn, each scolding each 
other? 

In this curious country of Bogland, 

In the famous kingdom of Frogland, 

Frogs are naughty, I fear, 

Each night in the year; 

Just listen some evening, and you will hear. 

- — Our Little Ones, 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 



I'LL PUT IT OFF. 



Some little folks are apt to say, 

When asked their task to touch, 
"I'll put it off at least to-day; 

It cannot matter much." 
Time is always on the wing — 

You cannot stop its flight; 
Then do at once your little tasks, 

You'll happier be at night. 
But little duties still put off, 

Will end in "Never Done;" 
And, "By-and-byis time enough," 

Has ruined many a one. 

— The Moderator. 



-:o:- 



THE CONCEITED GRASSHOPPER. 



There was a little grasshopper 

Forever on the jump; 
And as he never looked ahead, 

He often got a bump. 

His mother said to him one day, 
As they were in the stubble, 

"If you don't look before you leap, 
You'll get yourself in trouble." 

The silly little grasshopper 
Despised his wise old mother, 

And said he knew what best to do, 
And bade her not to bother. 



2± FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

He hurried off across the fields — 
An unknown path he took — 

When, oh! he gave a heedless jump, 
And landed in a brook. 

He struggled hard to reach the bank — 
A floating straw he seizes — 

When quick a hungry trout darts out, 
And tears him all to pieces. 

Good little boys and girls, heed well 
Your mother's wise advice; 

Before you move, look carefully; 
Before you speak, think twice. 

— Lutheran. 



-:o: 



GRANDPA'S WHISKERS. 



EVA M. TAPPAN. 



Grandpa likes to kiss wee Sallie; 

She says no, — 
Says his whiskers, thick and bushy, 

Prick her so. 
Grandpa's head is smooth and shiny 

On the top, 
Where the hair began to thin, and 

Would not stop. 
Grandpa kisses; Sallie questions, — 

So 'tis said, — 
"Grandpa, why not put your whiskers 

On your head?" 



FA VORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 



TO SANTA CLAUS. 



Let old Santa Claus come in, 
With his grisly bearded chin, 
And his wondrous packs of toys 
For good little girls and boys. 

"Merry Christmas!" he will say, 

"All who willingly obey, 

Good at school and fair at play, 

Shall have something fine to-day; 

But the naughty ones will find 

I bring what will make them mind!" 

Dear kind Santa Claus, you'll see 
What good children we can be; 
And we'd like it, please, to do 
Something in return for you. 
It is very cold outside, 
And you've very far to ride; 
Here's for you a cup of whey, 
And a bundle of sweet hay 
For the reindeer four-in-hand 
That you drive from Christmas-land. 

What care we for ice or snow, 
Or how cold the wind may blow? 
Let the tempest beat and roar; 
We hope it can not pass the door. 
By the fireside, warm and bright, 
We will merry be to-night, 
For the Christmas Child is near, 
Bringing pleasure and gopd cheer! 

— Harper's You?ig People. 



24 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER, 



A DIALOGUE. 



UNCLE CHARLES. 



Frank — Arthur, come! the day is fair. 
Arthur — -I've my lesson to prepare. 
Frank — Give it up, and come with me: 

Some fine skating you shall see. 
Arthur — Do not interrupt me, pray: 

This is not my hour for play. 
Frank — Do not be so over-nice: 

Come with me, and try the ice. 
Arthur — Truly I should like to go; 

But my duty tells me, No! 
Frank — Duty? That shall guide me too: 

I will stay and work with you. 

— The Nursery. 



-:o:- 



GOOD COMPANY. 



" I'll try!" is a soldier, 

"I will !" is a king; 
Be sure they are near 

When the school-bells ring. 

When the school-days are over, 

And boys are men, 
"Til try" and "I will" 

Are good friends then. 

— Harper s Young People. 



FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 25 

TWO LITTLE BIRDS. 

Two little birds, one autumn day, 

Sat on a tree together; 
They fluttered about from bough to bough, 

And talked about the weather. 

"The wind is blowing so cold," said they, 

"It chills us as we sing:" 
Then away they flew to the sunny South, 

And there they staid till spring. 

— The Nursery, 



-:o:- 



HELPING MOTHER. 



Your hands may be small, but every day 
They can do something that's good as play; 
They can help mother, and she'll be glad 
For all that's done by her lass or lad. 

If all the children would think to-day 
Of helping mother, as all of them may, 
They'd bring in water and wood, and do 
A dozen things she would like them to. 

For, though hands are small and years are few, 
There's always something that they can do 
To help the mothers and make them glad; 
Remember that, little lass and lad. 

So help your mothers about their work; 
Don't wait for asking — don't try to shirk. 
Do just the best that you can, and she 
Will say, "What a help are my dears to me!" 



26 FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 

YOUTH AND AGE. 



A funny thing I heard to-day 
I might as well relate. 
Our Lil is six, and little May 
Still lacks a month of eight. 

And, through the open play-room door, 
I heard the elder say: 
"Lil, run down-stairs and get my doll; 
Go quick, now, — right away!" 

And Lillie said, — (and I agreed 

That May was hardly fair): 

"You might say 'please,' or go yourself — 

I didn't leave it there/' 

"But, Lillie," urged the elder one, 
"Your little legs, you know, 
Are youngerer than mine are, child, 
And so you ought to go!" 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



FOR A LITTLE BOY. 



M. R. D. D. 



No one expects but little 

Of such a boy as I, 
But if I better grow each day, 

You'll see that by-and-by 
A good man I shall get to be, 

And all because / try. 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 27 

"YOU CAN'T COME IN, SIR!" 



If you would not be a drunkard, 

You must not drink a drop; 
For if you never should begin, 

You'll never have to stop. 

The taste of drink, good people say, 

Is hard in driving out; 
Then, friends, in letting in that taste, 

Why, what are you about? 

Out of your house to keep a thief, 
You shut your door and lock it, 

\nd hang the key upon a nail, 
Or put it in your pocket. 

So, lest King Rum within you should 

His horrid rule begin, sir, 
Just shut your lips and lock them tight, 

And say, "You can't come in, sir!" 

— Temperance Record, 



-:o:- 



A MISTAKE. 



A greedy young fellow named Jake 
Once ate a whole loaf of plum cake! 
"My goodness!" he bawled, 
When the doctor was called, 
"I fear I have made a mistake!" 



28 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

JACK HORNER 



AUNT CLARA. 



Little Jack Horner 

He sat in the corner, 
Crying for something to eat; 

In came Mother Hubbard, 

And went to the cupboard, 
And brought him a nice piece of meat. 

Then little Jack Horner 

Came out of the corner, 
And threw his nice meat on the floor: 

"I want some mince-pie!" 

Was the naughty boy's cry 
As he banged on the dining-room door. 

"I don't like cold lamb; 

Give me raspberry-jam:" 
But old Mother Hubbard said, "No! 

If a boy cannot eat 

Such nice, wholesome meat, 
To bed without food he must go " 

So little Jack Horner, 

Who cried in the corner, 
Was washed clean and put into bed. 

After sleeping all night, 

He awoke fresh and bright, 
And was glad to eat plain meat a*nd bread. 

— The Nursery. 



FA VORITE PRIM A R Y SPEAKER. 29 

THE BOY AND THE BROOK. 



LAURA C. RICHARDS. 



Said the boy to the brook that was rippling away, 
"Oh, little brook, pretty brook, will you not stay? 
Oh, stay with me! play with me, all the day long! 
And sing in my ears your sweet murmuring song." 

Said the brook to the boy, as it hurried away, 

"Is it just for my music you ask me to stay? 

I was silent until from the hillside I gushed, 

Should I pause for an instant my song would be 

hushed." 

— St. Nicholas* 



-:o: 



INDOLENT JOE. 



Hair all a-tangle, 

His hat to one side, 
His coat-tail in shreds, 

His shoe-strings untied; 
Idle and worthless, 

With nothing to do; 
No wonder folks say, 

"That's indolent Joe!" 
Too lazy to work, 

Too lazy to play, 
He lolls in the sun 

The most of the day; 
Yawning and moping, 

And dreadfully slow, — 1 
This, a word picture 

Of indolent Joe. 



30 FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 

THE LAZY PUSSY. 



PALMER COX. 



There lives a good-tor-nothing cat, ' 

So lazy it appears, 
That chirping birds can softly come 

And light upon her ears. 

And rats and mice can venture out 

To nibble at her toes, 
Or climb around and pull her tail, 

Or boldly scratch her nose- 
Fine servants brush her silken coat 

And give her cream for tea; — 
Yet she's a good-for-nothing cat, 

As all the world may see. 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



THE RICH LITTLE DOLLY. 



> 



Her hair was yellow, her cheeks were red, 
But, "You mustn't touch her," they always said, 
This rich little dolly. 

Over her dress of satin and silk 
She wore a necklace as white as milk, 
This rich little dolly 

Her foot (like the foot of a Cinderella) 
Was daintily shod, as becomes full well a 
Rich little dolly. 



FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 3' 

But nobody asked her out to dine, 
She was by far too rich and fine, 
This rich little dolly. 

Nobody sent, to a birthday party, 
Invitations old-fashioned and hearty 
To this little dolly. 

Nobody, when her heart was "b'oke," 
Cuddled close up to it under her cloak, 
This rich little dolly. 

But up in a moldy, musty drawer, 
Where nobody kissed her and nobody saw her, 
Stayed the poor, poor dolly. 

— Wide Awake. 



A DEAR LITTLE GOOSE. 



M. M. D. 



While I'm in the ones, I can frolic all the day; 
I can laugh, I can jump, I can run about and play. 
But when I'm in the tens, I must get up with the lark, 
And sew, and read, and practice, from early morn till 
dark. 

When I'm in the twenties, I'll be like my sister Joe, 
I will wear the sweetest dresses (and, may be, have a 

beau!; 
I'll go to balls and parties and wear my hair up high, 
And not a girl in all the town shall be as gay as I. 



32 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

When Fm in the thirties, I'll be just like my Mamma; 
And, it may be, I'll be married to a splendid big papa. 
I'll cook, and bake, and mend, and mind, and grow a 

little fat — 
But Mother is so sweet and nice, I'll not object to that. 

Oh, what comes after thirty? The forties/ Mercy, my! 
When I'm as old as forty, I think I'll have to die. 
But like enough the world won't last until we see that 

day;— 
It's so very, very, very, very, very far away! 

— St. Nicholas 



-:o:- 



APRIL. 



EMILY HUNTINGTON MILLER. 



Frost in the meadow, fog on the hill; 
Bluebird and robin sing with a will. 

Up through the brown earth, spite of the cold, 
Comes Lady Crocus, in purple and gold. 

Shy little Snow-drop, dressed like a bride, 
Nodding and trembling, stands by her side. 

Daffadowndilly slips out of bed, 

With a buff turban crowning her head. 

Slim Mr. Jonquil comes on the run; 
"Pray, am I up in time for the fun?" 

— Harper 's Yoy,ng Peqpie^ 



FA VORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. ^ 

TWO LITTLE BIRDS. 



Two little birds once met in a tree, 
One said, "I'll love you if you will love me." 
The other agreed, and they built them a nest, 
And began to keep house with very great zest. 
They lived there all summer, and then flew away; 
And where they are now I really can't say. 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



WHO IS IT? 



Hark! peep, peep, peep! 

What is it cries at night? 
Baby has gone to sleep 

To keep his black eyes bright. 

Hark! peep, peep, peep! 

Some chicks have strayed away, 
And for their mother weep. 

Listen, old hen, I pray. 

Hark! peep, peep, peep! 

Beneath their mother's wings 
The yellow chickens sleep, 

I know who 'tis that sings 

His peep, peep, peep, 

Upon a mossy log, 
All night his watch he'll keep 

Within the rushy bog. 



34 P^ VORITE PR IMA R Y SPEAKER. 

And peep, peep, peep, 

He cries, "Peep if you dare." 

But if you nearer creep, 
Sir Froggie isn't there! 

— Morning Star. 



PUSSY AND PONTO. 



Pussy and Ponto could never agree; 

They scratched and they barked and they 
fought! 
Now, dear boys and girls, I am sure you will see 

That they did not live just as they ought. 

Pussy and Ponto had breakfast enough 

To share it and eat it in peace; 
But one was so cross and the other so rough 

That the noise would each minute increase. 

Pussy and Ponto caught rats and caught mice, 

And everyone liked them for that; 
But they never would take anybody's advice 

To be friends like a wise dog and cat. 

Pussy and Ponto could never agree; 

And yet they were never apart! 
If he said "Bow-wow" then "Me-ow" answered 
she, 

And up they would both of them start. 



FA VORITE PRIM A R Y. SPEAKER. 35 

Pussy and Ponto — well, yes, — but, you know, 

They were only a dog and a cat! 
My boys and my girls, ah! you never should 
show 

Such a quarrelsome temper as that. 



SONG OF THE BROOK. 



A. D. W. 



What was the song of the meadow brook, 
As under the willows his way he took? 

Wouldn't you like to know? 
"Let me play a while as I will: 
By and by I must turn the mill, 

As farther down I go. 

"Daisies, hanging over my. side, 

Beautiful daisies, starry-eyed, 

Kiss me for I must go! 

But think of me as I turn the wheel, 

Grinding the corn into powdery meal 

And drifts of golden snow." _ 7 __ 

— The Nursery. 

:o: 



FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. 



Vacation is over at last! We have had much fun. 
But still I am glad to get into school once more. I like 
my teacher so well, and I want to see my playmates 
again. I have so many things to tell them. I always 
like to be at school the first day and see how it begins. 
My books are ready ; I have found them all right. Come, 
brother Will, let us hurry off. Put the dinner up, 
mamma, and now kiss me good-by. 



3 6 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. 



Good-by, schoolmates! Are you sorry it is the last 
day of school? Come and see me when you can. Good- 
by, dear teacher, good-by. We wish you a pleasant 
time during vacation. We thank you for all you have 
done to help us in our lessons. We are better scholars 
for it, and we are going to try to be good children while 
we are out of school, to be rested and ready for study 
next term. 



-:o:- 



QUEER DOLLIES. 



Beneath the shade 
An oak-tree made, 
Upon a summer day, 
Three little girls 
Played party once — 
A merry three were they. 

Sweet blue-eyed Sue, 
And brown-haired Prue, 
And pretty winsome Bess. 
But what they had 
For dolls, I'm sure 
You'd never guess. 

Prue had a funny yellow squash, 
And Sue a two-legged beet, 
And Bess an ear of corn, my dear, 
Which like herself was sweet, 



FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 37 

A FUNNY LITTLE GRANDMA. 



CLARA BROUGHTON. 



Cradled on a rose-leaf 
By her mother-miller, 
In her tiny egg slept 
Baby caterpillar, 

Till the sunbeams coaxed her 
From her cradle cosey, 
To her pretty chamber, 
Velvet soft and rosy 

Dew and honey drinking 
As from fairy chalice, 
A merry life she led 
In that rosy palace. 

Till at length she wove a 
Bed of cotton-down, 
Where she slept to waken, 
Dressed in satin brown. 

Once more in the sunshine, 
Oh! how sweet to roam, 
And on satin pinions 
Seek her flowery home! 

She had joined the noble 
Family of millers, 

And last I heard was grandmamma 
To six small caterpillars. 

— The Nursery. 



38 FA VORITE PRIMAR V SPEAKER. 

RAIN, HAIL, SNOW. 



L. T. C. 



(Can be used for calisthenic exercises,) 



Pitter, patter! pitter, patter! 

Hear the rain 

Beat against the window-pane! 

Clitter, clatter! clitter, clatter! 

Tells the tale; 

Now the rain is turned to hail ! 

Soft and light, 
Pure and white! 
On the ground 
Not a sound! 
Now we know 
It is snow! 



-St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



CHERRY BLOSSOM. 



S. M. DAY. 



Little Cherry Blossom 

Lived up in a tree, 
And a very happy 

Little thing was she. 

Clad all through the winter 
In a dress of brown, 

Warm she was, though living 
In a northern town. 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 39 

But one sunny morning, 

Thinking it was May, 
"I'll not wear/' said Blossom, 

"This old dress to-day." 

Mr. Breeze, this hearing, 

Very kindly said, 
"Do be careful, Blossom: 

Winter has not fled." 

Blossom would not listen; 

For the sky was bright, 
And she wished to glisten 

In her robe of white. 

So she let the brown one 

Drop and blow away, 
Leaving her the white one, 

All so fine and gay! 

By and by the sunshine 

Faded from her view: 
How poor Blossom shivered 

As it colder grew! 

Ah! poor Cherry Blossom! 

She, in foolish pride, 
Changed her wonted clothing, 

Took a cold, and died. 

All ye little blossoms, 

Hear me, and take care: 
Go not clad too thinly, 

And of pride beware._ The Nurser y. 



40 FA VORITE PRIMAR V SPEAKER. 

THE LITTLE MOTHER. 



Now, Dolly, dear, I'm going away, 

And want you to be good all day. 

Don't lose your shoes nor soil your dress, 

Nor get your hair all in a mess. 

But lie quite still, and up I'll come, 

To kiss you soon as I come home. 

I'd take you, dear, but then you know, 

It's wax Sabina's turn to go. 

She's sick, I'm 'fraid. Her eyes don't work; 

They open worse, the more I jerk; 

She used to be so straight and stout, 

But now her sawdust's running out. 

Her kid is out of order, dear. 

My papa says she's out of gear. 

That's dreadful, isn't it? But then 

The air may make her well again. 

So, Dolly, won't you stay alone, 

And be real good while I am gone? 

Good-by, my precious! Yes, I'll come 

And kiss you soon as I get home. 

— Frank Leslie' s Boys' and Girls' Weekly. 



-:o:- 



ROBERT AND ANN. 



"I mean to smoke when I'm a man," 
Said little Robert Brown; 

"I never would," said sister Ann, 
"Be such a silly clown." 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 41 

"Fie — if you call a man hard names, 

Who smokes a nice cigar, 
What do you call your uncle James, 

Or our own dear papa?" 

"Why, they have this bad habit on, 

And say can't lay it by; 
But if they never had begun. 

I'm sure they'd never try. 

"For father sometimes thinks he will, 
But gets so blue and croaking, 

His pipe he soon begins to fill, 
And finds himself a-smoking. 

"So, Robbie dear, if I were you, 

I'd let those things alone 
That you'll be sorry that you do, 

When you are older grown." 

"Why, to be sorry when a man 

Is reason good enough; 
And I will never smoke, dear Ann, 

If you will never snuff/' 

"Fie! do you think I'd use such stuff 

As rappee, black or brown? 
If noses had been made for snuff, 

They would be upside down." 

Then Bobbie laughed, but gave his hand 

To neither smoke nor chew; 
And boys and girls all o'er the land 

Had better do so, too. 



42 FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 

CONSISTENCY. 



MARGARET VANDEGRIFT. 



There was once a stately Giraffe, 
Whose motto was "Nothing by half!" 

His old friend the Tapir, 

Said, "Cut me a caper, — 
It's a year since I've had a good laugh!" 

So to please him, the gracious Giraffe 
Jumped over a cow and her calf; 

But when the old Tapir 

Told folks of this caper, 
They said: "That's just some of your chaff. 

"Te's a dignified chap, that Giraffe, 
And we know he does nothing by half; 

We can understand how 

He might jump over a cow, 
But he'd never jump over a calf !" 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o: 



ONE LITTLE LIFE. 



Bright little Dandelion, 

Downy yellow-face, 
Peeping up among the grass 

With such gentle grace, 
Minding not the April wind, 

Blowing rude and cold; 
Brave little Dandelion, • 

With a heart of gold. 



FA VORITE PRIM A R Y SPEAKER. 43 

Meek little Dandelion! 

Changing into curls, 
At the magic touch of 

Merry boys and girls! 
When they pinch thy dainty throat, 

Strip thy dress of green, 
On thy soft and gentle face 

Not a cloud is seen! 

Poor little Dandelion 

All gone to seed; 
Scattered roughly by the winds 

Like a common weed! 
Thou hast lived thy little life 

Smiling every day; 
Who could do a better thing, 

In a better way? 



:o:- 



<HERE WE ARE.' 



MRS. M. F. BUTTS. 



(Can be used for calisthenic exercises,) 



A jolly little army — 

I seem to hear their feet, 

Patter, patter, tread, tread, 
Beat, beat, beat! 

Here they come, there they come, 
From happy hours of play; 

Down hill, across dale, 
"Here we are!'' they say, 



44 FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER 

A jolly little army — 
Tramp, tramp, tramp! 

From the seaside cottage, 
From the mountain camp; 

From the dear old homestead, 
Hidden far away — 

Down hill, across dale, 
"Here we are!" they say. 

A jolly little army, 

Many thousand strong, 

Wild roses on their cheeks, 
On their lips a song: 

Coming back to school again, 
Bright with rest and play — 

Down hill, across dale, 
"Here we are!" they say. 



:o:- 



SHORT TEMPERANCE SPEECH. 



I do not think it best 

To wait till I'm a man, 
But sign the temperance pledge 

As early as I can. 

Let's be teetotal boys 
Till we grow up and then 

'Tis my opinion, with God's help, 
We'll be teetotal men! 



FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 45 

FOR A LITTLE GIRL. 



Don't think, dear friends, that I'm too small 

To fill a place like this; 
I'm big enough to love you all, 

And throw you all a kiss. 

A little word, a look, a smile, 

Will never come amiss; 
Takes but a moment as you see, 

To throw you all a kiss. 

It may be that you have at home 

Some boy, or little sis, 
Who laughs, and peeps, and when you go, 

Throws after you a kiss. 

Another word — do come and see 

Us, little lads and misses; 
And then, dear friends, I'll be so glad 

I've thrown you all these kisses. 



:o:- 



THE BOY AND THE TOOT. 



M. S. 



There was a small boy with a toot, 
Whom the neighbors all threatened to shoot; 

But the toot the next day, 

Was filled full of clay, 
Which stopped all the toot of the toot. 

- — St, Nicholas* 



46 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

A TALE OF A CAT. 



SADIE. 



I have a cat, I call him Sprig; 

He is a saucy fellow; 
His color is a grizzly gray — 

It's better than a yellow. 

Out in the yard's a cedar tree, 
Which holds a case of tin, 

Where a little wren sang merrily 
And built her nest within. 

Now Sprig, the cat, he founa it out 
And clambered up the tree, 

And in the can he stuck his snout 
To see what he could see. 

The little wren hopped all around, 
And scolded him quite free, 

But Sprig, he is a social cat, 
He thought he'd stay for tea. 

"Now Sprig, my cat, what are you at? 

Get out of that and go! 
You shall not rob that little wren; 

I will not have it so." 

So Sprig came down the tree again, 
But winked up with one eye, 

"My little game's nipped in the bud 
While she is standing by." 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 4 y 



THE LETTERS. 



I wish I knew my letters well, 
So I might learn to read and spell; 
I'd find them on my pretty card, 
If they were not so very hard. 

Now S is crooked — don't you see? 
And G is making mouths at me, 
And O is something like a ball, — 
It hasn't any end at all. 

And all the rest are — my! so queer! 
They look like crooked sticks — oh, dear! 
Ma counted six, and twenty more; 
What do they have so many for? 

— St. Nicholas 



:o:- 



THE FIRST LETTER. 



J. M. L. 



"Did you ever get a letter? 

/ did the other day. 
It was a real envelope, 

And it came a long, long way. 

"A stamp was in the corner 
And some printing, when it came, 

And the one that wrote the letter 
Had put 'Miss' before my name 



48 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

"Then there came a lot more writing, 
I forget now what it read, 

But it told the office-people 

Where I lived, my mamma said. 

"Don't you s'pose those letter-persons, 
If they hadn't just been told, 

Would have thought 'twas for a lady 
Who was awful, awful old? 

"For it looked real big and heavy, 
The outside was stuck with glue, 

So they couldn't know I'm little; 

/don't think they could. Do you?" 



-:o:- 



THE GOOD LITTE GIRL AND THE COLD LITTLE BOY. 



There was a little girl, 
And she had a little curl 

Right down in the middle of her forehead, 
And when she was good 
She was very, very good, 

But when she was bad she was horrid. 

There was a little chap, 

And he had a fur cap 
Which came to the middle of his forehead, 

And when he was cold 

He was very, very cold, 
But when he was warm he was torrid. 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 49 

LITTLE CHATTERBOX. 



They call me "Little Chatterbox," 

My name is Little May — 
I have to talk so much, because 

I have so much to say. 

I love my papa and mamma, 

I love my sisters too, 
And if you're very, very good 

I guess that I'll love you. 

I think it is so nice to live, 

And yet, if I should die, 
The Lord would send his angel down 

And take me to the sky. 



:o:- 



NIGHT AND DAY. 



When I run about all day, 
When I kneel at night to pray, 
God sees. 

When I'm dreaming in the dark, 
When I lie awake and hark, 
God sees. 

Need I never know a fear? 
Night and day my Father's near: 
God sees. 

: — St. Nicholas, 



So FA VORITE PR1MAR Y SPEAKER. 

HE WASN'T THERE. 

They were talking politics 
In a very earnest way, 

And little Katie listened 
To all they had to say. 

They spoke about a neighbor, 

An undecided man, 
Poor little Kate looked troubled, 

Then from the room she ran; 

But presently returning, 
She said, in tones intense, 

"I've looked for Mr. Smith, papa, 
And he istCt on the fence!" 

— Good Cheer. 



WINGED WORDS. 



If words 

Were birds, 
And swiftly flew 

From tips 

To lips 
Owned, dear, by you, 

Would they 

To-day, 
Be hawks and crows? 

Or blue, 

And true, 
And sweet? Who knows? 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER, 51 

Let's play 

To-day 
We choose the best; 

Birds blue 

And true, 
With dove-like breast! 

'Tis queer, 

My dear, 
We never knew 

That words, 

Like birds, 
Had wings and flew! 



-:o:- 



ORDER. 



(concert recitation.) 

We have a place for everything, 

And everything in time; 
A time to work, a time to sing — 

Yes, soon our voices chime. 

A time to play we ne'er forget, 

W 7 e love to have it come; 
A time to sleep, a time to eat, 

They help make up the sum. 

We have a place for all our things, 
And all our things in place, — 
place for hats, and hoops, and strings, 
And one where, we may race. 



52 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

A place for books, and ink, and pen,- 
When study hours are o'er 

We put them up with care, and then 
We're off to play once more. 

But when we hear the tinkling bell, 
Which says that school's begun, 

We leave the play we love so well, 
And for our places run. 



-:o:- 



LOVE FOR LOVE. 



MRS. MARY E. NEALY. 



"I wonder," said little Mabel, 

"Why the peoples love me so? 
There's mamma, and papa, and brother 

Aunt Kate and Uncle Joe, 
And Phillis in the kitchen, 

And servant Nora, too; 
I can't tell why they love me so; 

Dear teacher, pray, can you?" 

"O, yes, my little Mabel, 

It is not so hard to tell 
When I look in the depths of those dear blue 

eyes, 
Where purest love doth dwell. 

We love our blessed Savior 
Because he first loved us, 

And that's the way you won the love 
Even of naughty Gus." 



FA VORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 53 

" O, I only gived him my orange, 

And patted him on the head, 
'Cause great Jack Donald struck him 

And stole his buttered bread. 4 ' 
"Well, darling, that's just the thing; 

The angels up above 
See all your loving actions, 

And send you love for love." 



-:o:- 



MY TIME-TABLE. 



Sixty seconds make a minute, 
How much good can 1 do in it? 
Sixty minutes make an hour, 
All the good that's in my power, 
Twenty hours and four, a day, 
Time for sleep and work and play; 
Days, three hundred sixty-five, 
Make a year for me to strive 
Right good things each day to do 
That I wise may grow and true. 



-:o:- 



FOR A LITTLE BOY. 



T. G. L. 



You wish to hear me make a speech, 
And for your sake I'll try — 

When I the hight of manhood reach, 
And so till then, good-bye! 



54 FA VORITE PR/MAR Y SPEAKER. 



WAITING. 



MARY N. PRESCOTT. 



Dainty little Daisy 

Sits waiting for the sun — 
Says she's almost crazy 

To take a little run 
On the hill to show her frill, 

Or by the road to stray; 
But she's kept in-doors till 

Spring says she may. 

Dandy little Buttercup, 

Waiting for June weather, 
In his earthy bed tucked up, 

Wakes, and wonders whether 
He will sprout and soon shine out 

In his gold array, 
Or in doubt be left to pout 

Till Spring says he may. 

Pussy Willow, soon astir, 

Makes an early start, 
Thickens all her silver fur 

Just to look smart; 
Longs to break the spell, and take 

Her own sweet way 
Before the rest are wide awake; 

And Spring says she may. 

— Harper's Young People, 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. Jj 



FOUR LIMBS BREAK. 



Little boy, 

Chestnut tree, 
Scrambles up 

Full of glee. 

Two limbs break; 

Boy's head swims; 
Down he falls; 

Breaks two limbs. 



-:o:- 



THE LITTLE DREAMER. 



A little boy was dreaming, 

Upon his nurse's. lap, 
That the pins fell out of all the stars, 

And the stars fell into his cap. 

So, when his dream was over, 
What should that little boy do? 

Why, he went and looked inside his cap, 
And he found it wasn't true. 



-:o: 



BIRDIES, 



Each little bird with.n its little nest, 
Thinks its parents love it best, 
But the old birds cannot tell 
Why they love them all so well. 



FA VORITE PRTMAR Y SPEAKER. 

Sometimes great wasps come buzzing near, 
And fill the birdies' hearts with fear. 
"You cruel things," the young birds say, 
"You know that mother is away!" 

And when these birdies wish to try 
If they are strong enough to fly, 
The whole nest-full will gather round 
To see one flutter to the ground. 

In summer when they've larger grown, 
They'll sit upon a window-stone, 
And sing a morning song of joy 
To some kind little girl or boy. 

— St. Nicholas. 



:o:- 



A SMART BOY. 



I'm glad I have a good-sized slate, 
With lots of room to calculate. 
Bring on your sums! I'm ready now; 
My slate is clean; and I know how. 
But don't you ask me to subtract, 
I like to have my slate well packed; 
And only two long rows, you know, 
Make such a miserable show; 
And, please, don't bring me sums to add; 
Well, multiplying' s just as bad; 
And, say! I'd rather not divide — 
Bring me something I haven't tried! 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. j 7 



A LITTLE BOY'S WANTS. 



KATE LAWRENCE. 



In the first year: 

He wants a merry rattle, 

He wants a rubber ring, 
He wants a dainty swing-crib, 

He wants mamma to sing. 

In the second year: 
He wants a baby- dolly, 

He wants to dig for shells, 
He wants a penny trumpet, 

He wants a string of bells. 

In the third year: 

He wants some blocks for building, 

He wants a horse on wheels, 
He wants a little wagon, 

To fill with empty reels, 

In the fourth year- 

He wants a sword and pistol, 

He wants a fife and drum, 
He wants some books and pictures, 

Bo-Peep and brave Tom Thumb. 

In the fifth year: 

He wants a cap and muffler, 

He wants some mittens red, 
He wants to skate on rollers, 

He wants to own a sled. 



5 B FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

In the sixth year: 

He wants big boots like father's, 

He wants a "v'lossipede," 
He wants a slate and pencil, 

He wants to learn to read. 

In the seventh year: 

He wants a goat and carriage, 

And just a few things more, — 
Well, wait and see what Santa Claus 

Can spare from out his store. 

— Youth? s Companion. 



-:o:- 



THE ANGELS' WATCH. 



When golden stars are in the sky, 
And all the earth has gone to sleep, 

God sends his angels from on high, 
O'er little children watch to keep, 

They fill the night with heavenly songs, 
Sweet dreams their blessed music brings; 

Until at dawn in rising throngs 

They wake us with their rustling wings. 

— Harper 4 's Young People. 



PA VORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 59 

SOW.-SEW, SO. 



ROSA GRAHAM. 



(Can be used for calisthenic exercises,) 



Sow, SOW, SOW, 
So the busy farmers sow! 
Busy, busy, all the day, 
While the children are at play, 
Stowing, stowing close away 
Baby wheat and rye in bed, 

So, so, so, 

Sew, sew, sew, 
So the busy mothers sew! 
Busy, busy, all the day, 
While the children are at play, 
Sewing, sewing fast away, 
So the children may have frocks, 
Trousers, coats and pretty socks, 

So, so, so. 

Sow, sew, so, 
Sow they sow and sew; 
S, and O, and W, 
This is what the farmers do; 
Put an E in place of O, 
This is how the mothers sew, — 
So they sew and sew for you, 
So without the W, 

So, so, so. 

— St. Nicholas. 



6o FA VORITE PRIMA R V SPEAKER. 



THE BOBOLINK AND CHICK-A-DEE. 



A bobolink and a chick-a-dee 

Sang a sweet duet in the apple-tree. 
"When I'm in good voice/' said the chick-a-dee, 
"I sing like you to 'high' C, 'high' C; 

But I've caught such a cold 

That for love or for gold 

I can sing only chick-a -dee-dee-dee-dee!" 

— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



A CLOSING ADDRESS 



Kind friends and dear parents, 
We have welcomed you here 

To our schoolroom so pleasant 
And teacher so dear. 

We hope we have pleased you 
By what we have learned, 

And proved that our hearts 

To our books have been turned. 

But you must remember 
That we are quite small, 

And what we have done 
May not please you at all. 

Yet, since we have labored 

To give you our best, 
Please commend what is good, 

And pass by the rest. 



FA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 6 1 

A LITTLE BOY'S FIRST RECITATION 



I think it's not an easy task 
To speak a piece in school, 

But still I do not wish to ask 
To be excused the rule. 

For little boys must some day take 

The places of the men, 
And if they would good speakers make, 

Must try and try again. 

This be our motto; and now here 

I'll close my little rhyme, 
Hoping, should I again appear, 

To better do next time. 



GRANDMA'S LOST BALANCE. 
SIDNEY DAYRE. 



"What is the matter, grandmother dear? 
Come, let me help you. Sit down here 
And rest, and I'll fan you while you tell 
How it was that you almost fell." 
"I slipped a bit where the walk was wet 
And lost my balance, my little pet!" 
"Lost your balance? Oh, never mind it, 
You sit still and I'll go and find it." 

r— Youth's Companion. 



62 FA VORITE PR1MAR Y SPEAKER 

THE FIRST INTRODUCTION- 



MAUDE MEREDITH. 



"Why am I so happy, dear? 

Wait and I will tell you 
What is just the sweetest thing, 

I think, that ere befell you? 

"No! it is not dolls or toys 
That I count such treasure. 

Just step here and you shall see 
Cause of all my pleasure. 

"Now I'll let you take a peep 
At our precious, bless him! 

Wait a moment, I must first 
Just so softly kiss him. 

"Ah, the cheeks like rose leaves, soft; 

Eyes of blue, he's sleeping, 
See the dimpled fingers here 

From the laces peeping. 

"Baby's only four days old; 

Yes, so much we love him, 
That the earth is full of joy 

To the stars above him. 

"Name? Oh, yes, he has a name,' 7 

Little maid confessed, 
"He is brother Evedeen, 

But we call him blessed!" 

— Golden Days, 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 6s 

GOOD-BY. 



We have but one more word to say, 

As sinks the day to rest; 
We hope you're pleased at what you've heard; 

We've tried to do our best. 

We're glad to see you often here; 

And when you come we'll try 
To entertain you with our words, 

But now we'll say good-by. 

— Good Times. 



-:o:- 



A PRIZE FOR EVERYONE. 



ISABEL MC DOUGALL. 



There was once a little schoolma'am who was terribly 
distressed 

Because she could not quite decide which pupil did the 
best 

And whichever one received the prize looked down on 
all the rest. 

Said she, "I cannot bear to see the poor things look so 
sad!"— 

So she gave a prize for something to every single 
lad, 

And one — who never studied — took First Prize for Be- 
ing Bad. 

*—$t, Nicholas, 



64 FA VORITE PRIMAR V SPEAKER. 

BED-TIME. 



LUCY RANDOLPH FLEMING. 



Tell you a story? Dear me! 

And which one shall I tell? 
How Tommy Green, in cruel sport, 

Dropped Pussy in the well? 

Shall I tell you of Dame Hubbard's dog, 
And the wonderful things he did; 

Or of poor Bo-Peep, who could not tell 
Where her wandering sheep were hid? 

Or shall I tell of the dreadful wolf 

Who met Red Riding-hood; 
Or will you hear the sad, sad tale 

Of the Children in the Wood? 

Of Cinderella, who sat by the fire, 
And wanted to go to the ball, 

And the nice old godmother who came 
With the slippers of glass, and all? 

Or shall I sing of the active cow 
A^ r ho jumped right over the moon? 

Perhaps she frightened the man up there, 
And made him come "down too soon." 

Or will you hear of the famous birds 
All baked in the royal pie? 
think we could make a better dish 
With "a pocket full of rye." 



FA VORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 63 

What! baby mine, you are going to sleep, 
And none of the stories are told? 

The blue eyes are shut, and the pillow waits 
For the touch of the curls of gold. 

— Harper' 's Young People. 



-:o:- 



WHICH WAS IT? 



M. J. 



Why, you see, I was eating my supper 
Out there on the steps in the sun, 

And Kitty and Dolly were with me- 
AVhen, just as I'd hardly begun, 

I thought I heard somebody calling, 
"So Kitty and Dolly,", said I, 

"You stay and take care of my supper, 
And I will be back by-and-by." 

Now, mamma dear, would you believe it! 

I came back as quick as I could, 
And there they sat — Dolly and Kitty — 

Looking, oh, just as quiet and good! 

I laughed to myself when I saw them, 
They sat up so prim and so droll, 

And was just going to finish my supper — 
There wasn't a drop in the bowl! 

Oh no, 'twasn't that that I minded,— 
I s'pose, anyway, it was cold; 

But don't you see, — how shall I ever 
Know which of them I ought to scold? 
— Youth's Companion. 



66 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER, 

A NEAT LITTLE GIRL. 



Little miss Tidy 

Is neat as a pin; 

She wipes her feet neatly 

Whene'er she comes in. 

She folds her clothes smoothly 

When going to rest; 

Of all little girls 

She's the nicest and best. 



:o:- 



THE CAT AND T HE DOG. 



M. F. B 



The cat and dog resolved to be good, 

Truly kind and forgiving. 
"What's the use," they sweetly said, 

"Of such unpleasant living?" 

So Pussy took her dear Tray's arm, 
And out they sallied over the farm ; 

And all who saw them laughed with glee, 

And wondering, said, "Can such things be?" 

— St, Nicholas, 



FA V0R1 TE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 67 

A LITTLE BOY'S SPEECH. 



They thought I couldn't make a speech, 

I'm such a little tot! 
I'll show them whether I can do 

A thing or two, 'or not. 
Don't be afraid to fight the wrong, 

Or stand up for the right, 
And when you've nothing else to say, 

Be sure you say — Good night. 



LITTLE THINGS MAKE GREAT ONES. 



One step and then another, 

And the longest walk is ended, 
One stitch and then another, 

And the largest rent is mended, 
One brick upon another, 

And the highest wall is made; 
One flake upon another, 

And the deepest snow is laid. 

A little theft, a small deceit, 

Too often leads to more; 
'Tis hard at first, but tempts the feet, 

As through an open door. 
Just as the broadest rivers run 

From small and distant springs, 
The greatest crimes that men have done 

Have grown from little things. 



68 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

A SONG OF A DOLL. 



I once had a sweet little doll, dears, 

The prettiest doll in the world; 
Her cheeks were so red and so white, dears, 

And her hair was so charmingly curled: 
But I lost my poor little doll, dears, 

As I played on the heath one day, 
And I cried for her more than a week, dears, 

But I never could find where she lay. 

I found my poor little doll, dears, 

As I played on the heath one day: 
Folks say she is terribly changed, dears, 

For her paint is all washed away, 
And her arms trodden off by the cows, dears, 

And her hair not the least bit curled; 
Yet for old sake's sake she is still, dears, 

The prettiest doll in the world. 

— Harper's Young People. 



-:o:- 



ROBIN'S NEW- YEAR. 



On the snowy branch of a holly-bush 

A gay little red-breast sings: 
"Happy New-Year to all, to all," says he. 

Oh, loudly his greeting rings. 

And, in the warm nursery, way high up, 
From the window-pane looks down 

A dear little girl with sunshiny hair, 
And a boy with eyes so brown. 



FA VORITE PR J MAR Y SPEAKER. 6 9 

To Robin they call, "Ho, ho, little bird, 

Why singing so gayly, pray? 
The snow it is deep, the wind it is keen; 

You'll freeze with the cold to-day." 

"Icicles hang on the misletoe bough, 

And snow on the meadow lies, 
But I feel not the cold this New-Year s morn/' 

The brave little bird replies. 

"For God He is good, and God He is Love; 

He made the land and the sea, 
And the God that sees when the sparrows fail 

Will also take care of me." 

Then he eats with a thankful heart the crumbs 
That the small white hands let fall, 

And sings from his swing in the holly-bush ; 
"Happy New Year to all, to all !" 

- Oar Little Ones. 



THE LITTLE BOY WHO RAN AWAY. 



"I'm going now to run away," 
Said little Sammie Greer one day. 
"Then I can do just what I choose; 
I'll never have to black my shoes, 
Or wash my face, or comb my hair, 
I'll find a place, I know, somewhere, 
And never have again to fill 
That old chip basket — so I will. 



fo FA VORITE PR/MAR Y SPEAKER. 

"Good-bye, mamma," he said, "good-bye !" 

He thought his mother then would cry; 

She only said, "You going, dear?" 

And didn't shed one single tear, 

"There now," said Sammie Greer, "I know 

She loes not care if I do go, 

But Bridget does; she'll have to fill 

That old chip basket — so she will." 

One block from home, and Sammie Greer's 
Weak little heart was full of fears; 
He thought about "Red Riding Hood," 
The wolf that met her in the wood, 
The bean stalk boy who kept so mum 
When he heard the giant's "Fee, fo, mm," 
Of the dark night and the policeman, 
And then poor Sammie homeward ran. 

Quick through the alley-way he sped, 

And crawled in through the old wood-shed, 

The big chip-basket he did fill; 

He blacked his shoes up with a will; 

He washed his face and combed his hair; 

He went up to his mother's chair 

And kissed her twice, and then he said: 

"I'd like some 'lasses top of bread." 

— Golden Days. 



-:o: 



GOGGLE EYES.. 



Where are you going, Goggle Eyes? 
I'm going to the pond to fish for flies. 
Tell us your name before you go! 
I'm the flying frog of Borneo! 



PA VORITE PRIMA R Y SPEAKER. 7 1 

BOOKS. 



Some boys and girls hate their books; I don't. I would 
rather read and study than play all the time. I want 
to know something and not be a dunce when I grow 
up. I think story-books and picture-books are real 
nice presents, I hope Ma will buy me Robinson Cru- 
soe next birthday. I would like to read it ever so 
much. My teacher let me see Grimm's Fairy Tales 
the other day, and oh, such a beautiful book! And 
what pretty pictures are in it! I've heard sister tell 
stories from the Arabian Nights. They are all about 
forty thieves, wonderful lamps and rings, genii, great 
birds called Rocs, and many other strange and delight- 
ful things. I want to read them so much. But sister's 
stories are not so good as grandma's and uncle's are. 



-:o:- 



"THAT IS SO." 



MARGARET EYTINGE. 



[For Thanksgiving.] 



Said Turkey Great to Pumpkin Big: 
"Long have I been, my friend, 

King of the barn-yard, but my reign 
Must soon come to an end: 

Thanksgiving-day is near — heigh ho!" 

Said Pumpkin Big, "Yes, that is so." 



?2 FA VORITE PR IMA R Y SPEAKER 

Said Pumpkin Big to Turkey Great: 

"The kitchen-garden's queen 
I am, and one more beautiful, 

I'm sure, was never seen; 
And yet, with you, I'll have to go." 
Said Turkey Great, "Yes, that is so." 

"But still," said Turkey Great, "when cooked 

King of the feast I'll be." 
"And in the pies/' said Pumpkin Big, 

"Will shine my royalty: 
Our fate might be much worse, you know/' 
And then they both sighed, "That is so. * 

— Harper } s Young People. 



-:o:- 



MISS POLLY. 



W. S. REED. 



Miss Polly was walking one morning from school, 
When she sat down to rest on a soft, white toad- 
stool; 
Said the toadstool, "Alas! poor little wayfarer, 
I always did love her, but now I can't bear her!" 
So down with a crash came that company small — 
Miss Polly, lunch-basket, and toadstool, and all. 

— Our Little Men and Women. 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 73 

THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE WALL. 



There was a hole in the wall, 

And Mousie lived there, 
And Pussy passed by and she peeped in. 

"Hello, Mrs. Mouse, what are you doing 
there?" 
"I'm making stockings for Zella to wear." 
"May I come in, and hold your thread?" 
"Oh, no! Mrs. Puss, you would bite off my 

head!" 
"Oh, no! I wouldn't do any such thing!" 

"No matter for that, you can't come in." 



-:o:- 



WHAT BABY HAS. 



V. J, K. 



Ten little fingers and ten little toes; 

Two eyes and two ears and one little nose; 

Two little lips as red as a cherry; 

A laugh irresistible, hearty, and merry; 

Pretty bright roses on each little cheek; 

A glib little tongue trying so hard to speak; 

A warm little heart, and a sweet loving way; 

A kiss and a hug, any time in the day, 

For papa, or mamma, or sister, or me — 

Oh such a bright darling I never did see. 

— Harper s Young People. 



FA VORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER, 

BEAUTIFUL THINGS. 



Beautiful ground on which we tread, 
Beautiful heavens above our head. 
Beautiful sun that shines so bright, 
Beautiful stars with glittering light. 
Beautiful summer, beautiful spring, 
Beautiful birds that merrily sing. 
Beautiful lily, beautiful rose, 
Beautiful every flower that grows. 
Beautiful drops of pearly dew, 
Beautiful hills and vales to view. 
Beautiful herbs that scent the air, 
Beautiful things grow everywhere. 
Beautiful everything around, 
Beautiful grass to deck the ground. 
Beautiful fields and woods so green, 
Beautiful buds and blossoms seen. 
Beautiful flower, and beautiful leaf, 
Beautiful world though full of grief. 
Beautiful every tiny blade, 
Beautiful all the Lord hath made. 



-:o:- 



THE ROBIN AND THE CHICKEN. 



GRACE F. COOLIDGE, 



A plump little robin flew down from a tree, 
To hunt for a worm, which he happened to see; 
A frisky young chicken came scampering by, 
And gazed at the robin with wondering eye. 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 75 

• 

Said the chick, "What a queer-looking chicken is 
that! 
wings are so long and its body so fat!" 
While the robin remarked, loud enough to be 
heard: 
Dear me! an exceedingly strange-looking bird!' 7 

"Can you sing?" robin asked, and the chicken 

said, "No;" 
But asked in its turn if the robin could crow. 
So the bird sought a tree, and the chicken a wall, 
And each thought the other knew nothing at all. 

— St. Nicholas. 



:o:- 



WELCOME 



I say welcome to you all, — right welcome to our hall, 
our hearts, and to hear what we have to say. 1 tell 
you. you are just as welcome as you can be. We are 
real glad you are here. We wondered if you would 
come, we wanted you to come, we are glad you have 
come, we thank you for coming. Now, you know you 
are welcome. What could we do without you? You 
always encourage us, and, if we make mistakes, say, 
Never mind«, try it again. We love our friends. We 
see them here. They know we have been making 
ready, and that we shall try to do our best. Mine is 
a speech of welcome. It is not a first-rate one, but it 
means just what it says. — Primary Fridays •, S. R- Win- 
eke 11 6° Co., Publishers. 



76 FA V0R1TE PR IMA R Y SPEAKER, 

MY KITTEN. 



I have a little kitten, 

Just like a ball of silk; 
She purrs so very softly, 

As she laps her nice new milk. 

She is so full of mischief, 
So frolicsome and gay, 

I've not the heart to scold her, 
Excepting just in play. 

She upsets mother's work-box, 
And tangles all her thread; 

She's never still one minute, 
Unless she is in bed. 



-:o'- 



PLAYING AND WORKING. 



" Little robin singing 

From the cherry-tree, 
Won't you leave your bower, 

Come and play with me?" 

" No, no, no," the little robin said; 

"I must sing, and you must work.' 
And so the May day sped % 

" Little streamlet dancing 

Onward to the sea, 
Won't you stop your leaping, 

Come and play with me?" 



FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 77 

" No, no, no," the merry brooklet said, 

"I must play, and you must work, 
You pretty curly-head. " 

" Little flower growing 

Oh, so wild and free, 
Won't you leave the meadow, 

Come and play with me?" 

" No, no, no," the sweet spring beauty 
said; 
"I must grow, and so must you." 
And thus the May day fled. 



-:o:- 



MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT, 



(Can be used for calisthenic exercises, In singing or speaking the above, 
the pupils move hands and arms, bodies and heads in unison with the song 
and sentiment.) 



Little ones, little ones, fold each little hand, 
What a pleasant sight it is to see our little band. 
Right, left, up, up, hands and fingers go, 
Now they clasp above the head, and now we drop 
them — so. 

Rise my child, rise, pointing to the east, 

Where the morning sun ascends, when misty night 

has ceased. 
Up, up, on, on, goes the rising sun, 
Till we fold our hands, at noon, when rosy morn 

is done. 



78 FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER. 

Turn to south, turn to south, point again so high, 
Where the sun at noonday lights the blue and smil- 
ing sky. 
Down, down, on, on, sinking to the west, 
Till we fold our hands, at eve, as quietly we rest. 

Shut your eyes, shut your eyes, lean each little 

head, 
Just as sleepy children do, before they go to bed. 
Sweet morn, bright noon, sunset swiftly fly, 
Soon we'll watch the evening stars, as they twinkle 

in the sky. 






-:o # - 



PUSSY'S PORTRAIT 



"Bring Pussy here and hold her still, 
I'll draw her picture if you will; 
There, turn her round towards the light, 
And make her hold her head up right. 

"She mustn't jump to catch the flies, 
But sit up sober and be wise; 
And now she wants to wash her face — 
Do try to keep her head in place. 

"Now, hold her paws a little out, 
Do.i't let her switch her tail about; 
She mustn't shut her eyes like that — 
She's going to sleep — the lazy cat! 

"Miss Pussy, this will never do, 
I'll pinch her tail — now, hear her mew! 
There! — off she goes upon the run — 
Well, never mind, I'm almost done. 



FA VORITE PRIMAR Y SPEAKER 79 

"I'll write above it: CAT, 
Now, Nellie, you may look and see." 
She turned away to hide a laugh, 
It looked exactly like a calf. 



-:o: 



A FUNNY CHICKEN 



EMMA C. DOWD 



"We've such a lot of cunning chicks, 
Old Silverwing came off with six, 
And three are mine and three are Dick's — 
And have you any chicken? * 

" You've only one you always keep? 
And don't it cry, nor say, 'Peep, peep'? 
Nor run about,nor go to sleep? 
Why, what a funny chicken! 

"And when you feed your other pets 
It never sulks and never frets, 
But rests content with what it gets — 
Why, what a lovely chicken! 

"How old is it? You do not know? 
Older'n me? — why don't it grow? 
I wish you'd let me see it — oh! 
It's just a china chicken!" 

— St. Nicholas. 

* [Original: Have you got any chicken?] 



\wimnm\m F C0NGRESS g 

022 204 603 8 



So FAVORITE PRIMARY SPEAKER. 

A 



THE DANDELION. 



There was a pretty dandelion, 

With lovely fluffy hair, 
That glistened in the sunshine, 

And in the summer air. 
But, oh! tjhis pretty dandelion 

Soon grew quite old and gray; 
And sad to tell! her charming hair 

Blew many miles away. 



— St. Nicholas. 



-:o:- 



A LITTLE GIRL'S GOOD-BY 



GEORGE COOPER 



Good-by, daisy, pink, and rose, 

And snow-white lily too; 
Every pretty flower that grows. 

"Here's a kiss for you. 

Good-by, merry bird and bee; 

And take this tiny song 
For the ones you sang to me 

All the summer long. 

Good-by, mossy little rill, 

That shivers in the cold: 
Leaves that fall on vale and hill 

Cover you with gold. 

A sweet good-by to birds that roam, 
And rills and flowers and bees, 

But, when winter's gone, come home 
i\s early as you please. 

— The Nursery, 



LIg-rree~ ijp* « 
Ph 8.5, Buffered 



LIBRARY OF CONGRES 



022 204 603 i 



